In a recent maritime episode, pirates hijacked the Malta-flagged Vessel MV Ruen in the Arabian Sea. Swiftly intervening, the Indian Navy, with its strategic base in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden, tracked this hijacked vessel making its way towards the Somali coast. The European Union Naval Force’s Operation Atalanta also supported this anti-piracy action.
Maritime Piracy, as defined by Article 101 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), encompasses acts of violence, detention, or depredation executed for personal benefits in international waters or beyond any state’s jurisdiction. This crime involves seizure of ships, cargo theft, or abduction of passengers or crew members. Notably, areas prone to such activities include Northwest Africa, the Gulf of Guinea, the Red Sea, among others.
Policies and Actions Against Maritime Piracy
Globally, The UNCLOS provides a legal structure for countering piracy. Both the UN Security Council and General Assembly underline the crucial role of global partnerships in tackling piracy and maritime robbery, highlighting the significance of UNCLOS in addressing maritime threats.
The USA has started Operation Prosperity Guardian to maintain security in the Red Sea. The Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the safety of Maritime Navigation (1988), aims to ensure strict action against unlawful actions involving ships. The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a multinational naval partnership, focuses on counter-terrorism, prevention of piracy, regional cooperation, and maintaining secure maritime environments. It includes 39 member nations such as India.
India’s Role in Countering Maritime Piracy
In association with UNCLOS, India reaffirms its commitment through the SAGAR policy. Other initiatives include the International Fusion Centre (IFC), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and multiple projects for enhancing the technical surveillance of coastal and offshore areas. These include the Coastal Surveillance Network, National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network, National Automatic Identification System, and others.
Gulf of Aden – A Strategic Maritime Route
The Gulf of Aden, an extension of the Indian Ocean, is located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula’s south coast and Somalia in Africa. This crucial waterway, approximately 900 kilometers long and 500 kilometers wide, is vital for transporting oil from the Persian Gulf. Connecting the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea via the Strait of Bab el Mandeb, it serves as a significant oil transportation route between Europe and the Far East. Despite a lack of large-scale fishing facilities, the coastline sustains numerous fishing towns, and major ports like Aden and Djibouti. However, the region has been under global scrutiny due to an increase in piracy, terrorism, and refugee smuggling activities.